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Government backs ‘world-class’ medical research centre

The Prime Minister has backed plans to build a £500 million medical research centre, the biggest of its kind in the world. The new UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation in London will bring together up to 1,500 leading scientists and support staff.



Gordon Brown met with officials and researchers behind the project on Wednesday and agreed to sell land to the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, The Wellcome Trust and University College London for £85 million. Another £350 million will go towards building laboratories and tens of millions more will equip the centre with state of the art facilities.



In his announcement, the PM said: "We strongly support plans to create Europe's leading centre for medical research in the heart of London. It will maintain Britain's position at the forefront of global medical research, strengthen the UK economy and, through its links with the NHS, has huge potential to change patients' lives.



"By taking groundbreaking scientific discoveries right through to treatment, I expect that the 1,500 staff who will be part of this project will develop many of the cures, vaccines and drugs from which the NHS and its patients will benefit in years to come."



The centre, which will be in operation by 2013, will be located next to the British Library and the newly opened Eurostar terminal at St Pancras.

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